The Association of Chiefs of Local Authorities of Lithuania (ACLAL)

Lithuania is located at the Eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. It borders 588 km with Latvia in North, 103 km with Poland and 273 km with Russia (Kaliningrad district) in South and 660 km with Belarus in East. The territory of Lithuania is 65,300 sq. km. The population of Lithuania was 3,483,972 at the beginning of year 2001.

On the local level Lithuania has 60 Local Authorities. The Local Authorities consist of 536 Seniunijas. Seniunijas are the structural and territorial elements of Local Authorities' administrations and also are called as branches.
The largest Local Authority is the Local Authority of Vilnius (the capital). There are 542287 inhabitants and 21 Seniunija.
The smallest one is the Local Authority of Neringa. It has 2700 inhabitants and 2 Seniunijas.

Chiefs run Seniunijas.
The Association of the Chiefs of Local Authorities in Lithuania (ACLAL) was established on June 22, 2001. There are 450 members (chiefs) in the Association.
The Association is a non-profit-making organization that holds rights of a legal body.

The mission of Association is to solve the general problems of its members - the chiefs, to represent the general interests of its members at the ALAL, to coordinate the purposeful activity of its members in sharing experience, improving qualification and legal defence, and to reinforce local self-government.

The activity of the Association is based on the principles of self-support of its members, decentralization of the government, collegiality, legitimacy, democracy, limpidity and accountability.

The Association coordinates and promotes cooperation between the chiefs of Lithuania, provide them with consultations, represents and defends them; reinforces the mutual comprehension and partnership between the local government, business sectors and nongovernmental organizations, promotes the participation of energetic citizens when the institutions of local government decree, reinforces the expansion of communal motion; in accordance with the juridical acts provides suggestions and participates in the arrangement and consideration of the legislations and projects of other juridical acts associated with the activity of Seniunijas and communities; organizes training for the chiefs. The Association cooperates with the organizations that represent general interests of other parties.

The Congress is the supreme governmental institution of ACLAL. The members of the Association according to the determined quotas represent Seniunija of each local authority at the Congress. The Congress confirms and changes the rules of Association, elects the council, the chairman, vice-chairmen - the coordinators of the district and controller of Association for a period of two years. It determines the extent of contribution and fee for the members and order of the payment.
The Council governs the Association prior to and after the Congress. The Council consists of ACLAL member from each Local Authority, the chairman and vice-chairmen.
The Chairman of the Council coordinates the activity of the Association, represents the Association at the ALAL, Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and Local Authorities of foreign countries, international organizations of local self-governments and non-governmental organizations.

The Association cooperates with the Association of local Authorities of Lithuania (ALAL), Association of Rural Communities, the foundation "Lithuania - USA iniciatives" and foreign colleagues - the Association of Executive Directors of Local and Regional Governments of Latvia and the Union of Rural Local Authorities of Poland. It is planned to look for the partners in other European countries and the rest of the world, as well.

The President of Association
Algis Strelčiūnas
Chief of Lazdynai, Vilnius
address: Erfurto street 29  Vilnius, Lithuania.
phone:+370 5 240 1814, +370 698 45 390
fax: +370 5 240 1814
e-mail: algis.strelciunas@vilnius.lt

 

More information about ACLAL at www.seniunai.lt
e-mail: lssa@seniunai.lt